Then listen as, suddenly, a human voice says hello and wishes you a nice day.

Zooms, a local chain of convenience stores that also sell gasoline, reaches out to customers through the pump intercoms. But so far, they're used only for greetings, not to attract customers into the store.

In fact, while many convenient stores are losing in-store sales to the fast and easy paying-at-the-pump option, Zooms President David Allen says his company hasn't had to use the pump intercoms -- or any other attraction -- to get people inside.

"To the contrary, it helped our inside sales," Allen said. "Usually, it's husband and wife. While he pays at the pump, she goes inside and gets the snacks. It's less hassle and quicker."

Allen doesn't believe in trying to sell doughnut and coffee over the loudspeakers while his customers are getting gas.

"It's only a hello, thank you and have a nice day," he said. "At the pump, they want it kind a quiet. We believe that you make your decision when you pull up on the lot. If it's an inviting store, this will draw you in the door."

Allen says his entire company's philosophy is built on the right attitude.

"We found to deliver world-class service, we had to greet the people at the door and the pump, smile and say thank you," said Allen, who operates 14 Zooms locations on the Peninsula. "We try to do this in every single transaction and in every single store."